Oct 17, 2018 BY Luke Rees
Looking for new sunglasses that are full of innovative tech designed for adventure sports? Then check out this review of The Edge Sunglasses by Cab9, in which we pose the question, are they the best action sport sunnies?
The phrase ‘made by *insert sport participants here* for *insert sport participants here*’ is banded around a bit too liberally in my opinion. But it is used with good reason, as people who are into a particular sport know what participants of that sports need.
Cab9 are a team of snowboard instructors who decided to start making sunglasses that work for their lifestyle. Their sunglasses have now been around for a couple of years and are pretty popular. The selling point is that Cab9 provide great quality eyewear at reasonable prices.
Based on the success of their early models, which all cost around £30/€35, they decided to try to make the best action sport sunnies possible. It took twelve months of research and development, testing in all conditions, doing various sports, but they have now launched The Edge sunglasses. They’ve packed lots of innovation into a £60/€68 pair of sunnies.
In order to test The Edge sunnies I have been mountain biking in them, trampolining with a snowboard, trail running and paddle boarding. I have also worn them driving, in everyday life and whilst sat in a beer garden (obviously the most important test!).
For this review of The Edge Sunglasses I feel I have really put them through their paces. I have got sweaty, wet and muddy, I have jumped around to try to dislodge them and spent the whole day outdoors in them. I have not actively tried to break them, but they have been tested in tough conditions, all to decide if they are the best action sport sunnies.
The most important part of any eyewear is the view they provide. I have had lovely looking sunglasses that fail on the basic premise of helping you to see. Sunnies should enhance what you see, and the Edge sunglasses by Cab9 do this in various ways.
The Infrashield™ Lens offers the standard full UV protection. But it also offers near infrared protection, this reduces eye fatigue particularly when exposed to bright sunlight for long periods. After a day in the sun my eyes often feel tired, but after a full day outside in The Edge I did not notice eye fatigue.
The lens is also polarised which reduced glare off water and snow. I have not been out in the snow in them but can vouch for it reducing glare off water. Finally, they provide ultra sharp definition by enhancing colours, this gives a slightly rosey/orange tint to the world which is very clear view and provides great definition.
The only thing I would say against the lenses is they do not wrap around enough which lets a little light in from the sides and above. I personally prefer wrap around sunglasses to stop this, and although it did not happen when I was wearing a peaked hat or helmet, in some positions light gets through and reflects off the back of the lens creating a small amount of glare.
The sunglasses are lightweight – just 25 grams. This means you don’t feel them as much as heavier specs. It also means there is less chance of them falling off as the lower weight creates less momentum that can cause slippage or the glasses to come off if you crash or take a tumble.
To help keep them in place there are hydrophilic – meaning that on a molecular level it is attracted to water – rubber contact pads at the nose and ears. Even when I got wet and sweaty during this review of The Edge Sunglasses by Cab9 I found the contact points do not slip, even when riding a bumpy trail or trampolining.
To be the best action sports sunnies they need to be robust. The Edge do this through a frame that’s ultra flexible. Not only does this mean they are hard to break, but that they adapt to fit your head. Towards the end of the below video you can see how much abuse these sunglasses can take.
Overall they stay in place brillianty, fit really well and are very comfortable.
Of course to be the best action sports sunnies they also need to look good. The Edge follow the current trend of rectangular style lenses, a little like the popular wayfarer style but with a more streamlined and modern look.
The lenses come in five colour options. With bright blue, green and orangey red meeting current popular styles and chrome or black/smoke for a more timeless appeal. All in all it makes for glasses that look good and would be considered fashionable.
The lenses are extra scratch resistant, so you don’t have to worry too much. I got mud on mine when mountain biking and avoided any scratches, although I very carefully washed it off. With the robust and durable frame these sunnies should last a long time.
I love how light, comfortable and robust these Cab9 sunglasses are. Plus I adore the greater definition, colour enhanced view they give me of the world, which I think would work really well on snow.
It’s hard to tell if they reduced eye fatigue as I’ve only worn them all day once and I had a few beers… so more testing is required. The only drawback for me is they are not wraparounds, which I think is the style that make the best action sport sunnies as it stops sun coming in from the side and above. However, wraparounds are currently not very fashionable.
To conclude this review of The Edge Sunglasses by Cab9, I’d say they are exceptionally good sunnies. Being light and robust they are perfect to chuck in your bag or snowboarding pocket to put on when you take your goggles off. They are also very good for driving, or under a peaked cap for running or riding etc as they don’t slip off or steam up.
Although perhaps not the best action sport sunnies ever made, but at this price they are right up there and I thoroughly recommend them. They look good, the view is crystal clear and colours enhanced, plus they are good for your eyes. And although £60/€68 is not cheap, it’s less than half the price of sunglasses with similar tech by the big brands.
If you’d like to buy a pair go to www.cab9eyewear.com/the-edge/
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